TGW Chapter 28 Part 1

 

BOOK 5

 

Patricia’s Mistake

 

Fatima lifted her head. As she removed her mask with a sense of relief, her expression softened considerably.

“I don’t know how I would have acted if I were in Your Majesty’s position. But I don’t think I could have done it the way you did.”

Fatima felt much lighter. She could finally let go of any lingering attachments.

That man wasn’t meant to be hers. He had his true match elsewhere. With that, her heart was at peace.

“I haven’t yet decided on my future. If I stay in the Empire, I will seek your help. If I leave, I will make sure to bid you a final farewell.”

“Come anytime. I will instruct the maids to welcome you as a distinguished guest.”

Fatima couldn’t tell whether the Silver King had a generous nature or simply didn’t consider the barbarian princess a competitor. His true feelings were unclear.

But one thing was certain: the Silver King wasn’t an emotionless puppet. He was a person with a passionate heart, though he didn’t show it.

“It won’t be easy for you. The Red King won’t simply stand by and watch the two of you.”

Leaving this advice for them, Fatima stood up.

“What do you mean by that?”

Sienna, sensing something strange in Fatima’s hesitation, felt an eerie premonition. It wasn’t just a casual remark, but it wasn’t quite a malicious one either.

“Have you met my mother?”

Fatima’s eyes darted around.

“When?”

“...About ten days ago.”

“For what reason? What did she say to you?”

Fatima hesitated, her expression troubled. She knew that carrying tales between mother and daughter could only lead to trouble.

After leaving the Silver Palace, Fatima had planned to reject the Red King's offer. She preferred seeking help from the Silver King rather than engaging in an uneasy deal with the Red King.

“It’s alright. Speak. You won’t be held responsible.”

Fatima let out a small sigh. Judging from the Silver King's firm expression, she wouldn’t be able to leave without revealing what had been said.

“She offered to help me marry Marquis Rad.”

Sienna’s eyes narrowed.

“How?”

Sienna assumed her mother was trying to exploit Fatima’s feelings, but Fatima’s next words left her stunned.

“She said she would drug the Marquis and arrange for us to be alone in a room together. Then, using several witnesses, she would spread the rumor, leaving the Marquis with no choice but to take responsibility for me.”

Sienna was speechless for a long moment before letting out a bitter laugh.

“Kuhn... the Marquis isn’t someone who would fall into such a simple trap.”

“I didn’t hear the details. I haven’t given a definite answer yet.”

Sienna let out a long sigh. She felt both frustrated and embarrassed to even look at Fatima. Every time she was reminded of Patricia’s unscrupulous methods, the last bit of familial affection she had dwindled.

‘Should I warn Kuhn? No, would Mother give up even if this plan fails?’

Fatima fiddled with her clasped hands as the Silver King stared at her intently. She couldn’t read his expression.

“Princess.”

“Yes.”

“Could you help me? I’m thinking of turning my mother’s plan against her.”

“What do I gain by helping Your Majesty?”

Sienna fell into deep thought. After a long silence, she answered.

“You’ll gain more trouble than benefit. Helping me will put you at odds with my mother, whose influence in society I can’t currently overcome. If you wish to remain in the Empire, you may face serious difficulties. But I promise to do everything in my power to protect you.”

It was an answer full of genuine concern.

‘How can a mother and daughter be so different?’

Fatima compared the negotiation styles of the Red King and the Silver King, who couldn’t have been more opposite. The Red King promised sweet rewards, while the Silver King emphasized the harsh reality. Based purely on the terms, aligning with the Red King seemed more advantageous. Yet, strangely, she was more drawn to the Silver King’s offer.

“How can I help?”

She had made her decision. This side seemed much more exciting.

‘There must be some conflict between the Silver King and the Red King that I don’t know about.’

Most people only saw the graceful swan gliding above the water, unaware of the desperate paddling beneath the surface.

Fatima had lived through such a life in the desert. That’s why she didn’t judge based solely on appearances. The Silver King’s rift with her mother had to be about more than just a man.

---

Later that night, Fatima followed the messenger from the Red Palace to meet Patricia. Sitting in a dimly lit parlor, Patricia looked like a witch reigning over the darkness.

“Greetings to the Red King.”

“Welcome, Princess. It’s been a while.”

“Yes, have you been well?”

“My well-being depends on your answer. But before we continue where we left off, there’s something I must know first.”

Patricia’s cold gaze glinted as she stared at Fatima.

“Why did you meet with the Silver King today?”

‘Was I being watched? Or was it the Silver King?’

Suppressing her anger and sorrow, Fatima replied with a calm face.

“I was given a warning.”

“A warning?”

“It seems the Silver King heard of my affection for the Marquis from someone.”

Patricia’s eyes widened.

“The Silver King... summoned you to warn you about that?”

“He didn’t say it outright, but he suggested that I should return to the desert.”

Patricia’s heart sank. The situation was far more serious than she had imagined. The Silver King was jealous.

‘Does this mean the Silver King’s feelings for that man have grown this deep?’

She couldn’t let this continue.

 

***

 

The day before the Silver King's birthday banquet.

The royal palace would be bustling all day with preparations. On the eve of such a grand event, most officials didn’t come to the palace, except those on night duty. Caught up in the festive mood, no one could focus on work.

Kuhn, too, didn’t plan on going to the palace that day, as there was nothing urgent, and he intended to prepare for the banquet tomorrow. However, someone from the palace visited his estate early in the morning. An unexpected guest.

“What business does the Red Palace have with me?”

“The Red King wishes to meet with you. Tomorrow, the palace will be busy preparing for His Majesty’s birthday celebration, so the Red King only has time in the morning. Though it’s early, I’ve come to escort you. Please understand.”

The middle-aged woman’s tone didn’t match her words. Her posture was rigid, and her voice was flat as if she were the one giving orders.

Kuhn recognized the maid before him from the Silver Palace. She was one of the most trusted servants of the Red King, perhaps the head of all the maids. It was clear the Red King wielded great power. For a maid to be so arrogant in front of a marquis was remarkable.

“She said it’s important, related to His Majesty, and that you must attend.”

“...Fine. I’ll prepare. Wait here.”

After the maid left, Walter, who had been serving tea, scowled and stomped around the room.

“Kuhn, what’s with that maid’s insolence? You’re a marquis personally granted a title by the Emperor!”

“People who act high and mighty often aren’t the masters themselves, but the servants relying on their master’s power.”

Kuhn, rubbing his temple with one hand, turned his gaze to Walter.

“I’m going to the palace. Get ready.”

“Now? This is absurd. Why should you answer the Red King's summons like this? Even the Emperor wouldn’t demand such a thing.”

Kuhn chuckled.

“If the Emperor calls, I must go.”

“But this is just a maid delivering the message! There was no prior appointment, and this feels like a demand, not a request.”

“Don’t make me say it twice. Get ready.”

“...I’ll fetch your clothes.”

Walter left, grumbling with a puffed-up face.

Kuhn sighed. The Red King was indeed a cunning woman, skilled at exploiting people’s weaknesses. Since it was something concerning the Silver King, he had no choice but to comply.

Kuhn entered the palace, accompanied by the Red Palace maid. At least this time, they didn’t leave him waiting outside but brought him inside directly. After being led to the drawing room, the maid spoke.

“The Red King is out at the moment. She’ll return soon, so please wait.”

Kuhn sat alone in the drawing room. Steam rose from the teacup the maid had brought. The air inside the room was stuffy, with the fireplace blazing.

Though the Red King was supposed to return soon, she didn’t show up. The tea grew cold, and the maid replaced it several times, filling the room with a bitter tea fragrance. Kuhn felt thirsty but didn’t touch the tea.

‘So, this is how she plans to mess with me.’

He chuckled inwardly. If this was the extent of her mischief, he could handle it with a smile. For the Red King, this was mild.

Kuhn ended up waiting for over two hours. The Red King never appeared. Finally, the maid approached and bowed.

“Your Excellency, the Red King is occupied with urgent matters. It seems it will take longer than expected, so she asks that you return for now.”

Kuhn stood up without a word. He was at least grateful she hadn’t kept him waiting all day.

‘This kind of trick won’t affect me much.’

Kuhn wasn’t the type to get worked up over wasting a few hours. In business, it wasn’t uncommon for someone to wait half a day only to be stood up. Time management was part of power dynamics. Whoever grew impatient first lost.

He glanced at the untouched teacup. Something didn’t sit right.

‘Could it be?’

It seemed too obvious. The Red King wasn’t a fool.

As Kuhn walked down the palace corridor, he sensed someone approaching. Turning around, he recognized a familiar face.

“Steward, isn’t it?”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

The steward bowed deeply.

“Upon hearing of your arrival, His Majesty requested to see you. He asked me to bring you.”

“I see. Lead the way.”

Kuhn followed the steward without suspicion. Of course, the Emperor would know he had come to the palace. And the steward had always been one of the Emperor’s most loyal and trusted aides.

“Where are we going?” Kuhn asked as they headed away from the Emperor’s usual offices.

“His Majesty wishes to speak in private. Are you familiar with his retreat?”

Kuhn Rekalled something Deanne had once mentioned. One of the three Founding Palaces served as the Emperor’s private retreat, a place from his time as the Mad King.

“Ah... I’ve heard of it.”

“I will take you to the retreat.”

Kuhn couldn’t quite figure out why the Emperor wanted to meet in private, but it wasn’t entirely out of place either. He thought it might be related to the recent conversation between the Emperor and Jeffrey.

‘Anton’s translation of the letter is taking too long. If I knew the contents, I could predict what the Emperor wants to discuss today.’

The retreat was located in the northwest, farthest from the other two Founding Palaces, which served as residences for the Silver King and the Iron King.

Kuhn had visited the other two palaces several times, but this was his first time seeing the third one. He had never even passed by it before, so the exterior was unfamiliar.

‘It’s large. Seems to be the biggest of the three.’

The palace was surrounded by a low wall, just tall enough to show the grand structure inside. There was no one at the outer gate, which struck Kuhn as odd. The Emperor’s security was never this lax.

“Why is there no one guarding this place?”

“His Majesty hasn’t arrived yet.”

Kuhn heightened his senses, scanning the surroundings. If this was a trap, there should have been armed men lying in wait.

However, he didn’t sense anyone, so he relaxed. As long as he wasn’t outnumbered, he was confident he could handle any danger.

“This is the Emperor’s retreat, yet there are no guards?”

“His Majesty rarely visits. The retreat is minimally staffed.”

Inside the palace, the entrance led to three branching corridors—straight ahead, left, and right. The steward turned right, and Kuhn followed him down a long hallway.

At the end of the corridor was a single door. The steward opened it, revealing an elegantly decorated drawing room, filled with the rich scent of tea. On the coffee table was a single prepared cup.

“Please wait a moment. His Majesty will see you shortly.”

“Understood.”

Kuhn sat on the sofa. He noticed the steward’s gaze lingering on him a bit longer than expected. As the steward turned to leave, a faint tremor ran through the muscles under his eyes.

 

***

 

After Marquis Rad left the Red Palace, the maids bustled about with purposeful movements. First, they blocked the ventilation of the fireplace. The flames, which had been roaring moments before, quickly died down. One maid scraped the remaining ashes into a pan and carried them out. Another flung the windows wide open to air out the room.

Once the scent of tea that had lingered in the air was completely gone, Patricia entered the room.

“The tea?”

Patricia asked. The middle-aged maid who had been sent on an errand to the Ivy Estate, Sonia, responded.

“He didn’t drink it.”

Patricia scoffed. She had expected as much.

She had intentionally created a situation where the marquis would feel parched. The pretense of discussing the Silver King’s affairs would have put him on edge. Sitting alone in what was essentially enemy territory, his nerves would have been stretched thin. In the warm, dry weather of late, she had even stoked the fireplace to exacerbate his discomfort.

A cautious man wouldn’t dare touch any beverage in such a situation.

‘His own wariness will end up tightening the noose around his neck.’

The tea had been a decoy, meant to focus his suspicion. There was nothing in the tea. If he had drunk it, it might have at least quenched his thirst.

Soon, he would realize he had fallen into a trap, but there would be no evidence to tie it to the Red Palace. After all, he hadn’t consumed anything during his visit, effectively proving the Red King’s innocence himself.

The real culprit had been the fireplace. It was all part of one of Patricia’s meticulous plans. The purpose of the fireplace wasn’t to raise the room’s temperature but to burn a specific poisonous herb.

While a fireplace wasn’t as subtle as an incense burner, it served the purpose well enough. Since the flames were strong, a large quantity of the herb had been required for the effect.

‘What a waste.’

She had nearly exhausted her long-stored supply of the herb for this scheme. It was a rare plant that couldn’t be mass-produced, making it priceless. Still, using an incense burner would have left too strong a scent and could have provided evidence later.

‘Considering who I’m dealing with, it’s better to be cautious.’

The herb’s smoke was special. It smelled quite similar to tea. Inhaling it alone had no immediate effects, and within half a day, it would be entirely excreted from the body.

However, if someone inhaled the smoke of a second herb, the two compounds would combine to create a potent aphrodisiac.

‘Even the most chaste of priests would be turned into a beast in heat. No man could resist if a woman threw herself at him, especially under such conditions.’

The drug had been developed through experiments and modifications. She had conducted multiple human trials to perfect its potency. Initially, Patricia had intended to sell it discreetly on the black market for extra income, but its low production rate made it impractical. Yet now, she found it quite useful in this manner.

The herb’s effects were powerful and reliable, but the method of administration was tricky. The order in which the two herbs were inhaled had to be precise, and the smoke couldn’t be inhaled directly, like with a pipe.

The only way it worked was through indirect inhalation, with the first herb’s smoke being breathed in for at least an hour before the second herb was introduced.

‘The herb can be replaced, but using the steward for this ploy—now that’s a true loss.’

She hadn’t been able to pull off the plan within the Red Palace. The real challenge had been getting the marquis to a location that had no apparent ties to the Red King. That’s when the steward came to mind. If the steward lured him, the marquis would have no reason to suspect anything.

Reports had already come in that the marquis had followed the steward. He was likely at the Emperor’s private retreat by now.

‘It was a costly move, but it was the right one. Separating him from the Silver King at this price is worth it. Leaving him unchecked would lead to regret down the line.’

Once the marquis reached the retreat, he would be exposed to the second herb’s smoke. Then, Princess Fatima would seduce the drugged man.

A maid entered and announced, “Your Grace, the task has been completed.”

After making a deal with Fatima a few days prior, Patricia had assigned a maid to shadow her. The maid’s job was to watch over Fatima closely and ensure she didn’t have second thoughts. Today, she had also escorted Fatima through the hidden passage into the retreat and confirmed everything was in place.

“Well done.”

The maid bowed her head, but her eyes trembled noticeably. Patricia, as usual, paid no attention to her once the report was delivered. Another maid soon entered with further news.

“Your Grace, the carriages have arrived at the palace.”

Patricia nodded.

‘The stage is set.’

All that remained was for the audience to witness the final act.

A large number of nobles from the vassal states had arrived in the capital to attend tomorrow’s birthday celebration for the Silver King. To foster better relations between the empire and the vassal states, the palace had organized a tour of its renowned sights, including the imperial gardens, the Red King’s greenhouse, and the Emperor’s retreat.

Today, they would be visiting the Emperor’s retreat. And in broad daylight, they would stumble upon a man and woman engaged in a scandalous affair in a hidden room. There would be too many witnesses to suppress the story, and by tomorrow, everyone at the banquet would know what had transpired.

‘The Silver King won’t hesitate to cast aside a marquis tarnished by such rumors.’

Patricia leaned back on the sofa, her lips curling into a satisfied smile. All that remained was to enjoy the spectacle.

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